Whangarei police seek man after 'sinister' attack

Whangarei police want help tracking down a man involved in a "sinister" attack on a woman as she entered her home after a night out.

Sergeant Gavin Cyprian said the woman had been out in Whangarei on Friday night when she decided to walk to her Regent home about 3am on Saturday.

Mr Cyprian said the woman walked up Bank St and into Cross St then Gorrie St, where she lived. He said the woman unlocked the front door and as she entered the home she was attacked from behind by a man.

Mr Cyprian said the woman screamed for help and her flatmate got out of bed to see what was going on and the man ran off.

The woman was unable to get a good look at the attacker, but he was wearing a blue and white "criss-crossed" top. It's unsure if the man had been following the woman or was waiting at the house.

Mr Cyprian urged anybody with information, or who may have seen a man following a woman up Bank St, to get in touch.

He said the attack was worrying as it had potentially sinister undertones and police wanted to catch the man before he attacked anybody else.